Starting a dental practice is no easy feat, but with the right legal counsel, you’ll be able to protect your dental practice all while opening up a lucrative new branch of the medical field. There are many things to consider and questions that need to be answered before launching your own practice. An Irvine Dental Attorney can help you get the answers you need.
Dental law is complex, and like any other industry, it has its own rules and regulations. The law can be confusing, and oftentimes complex. There are many barriers to opening a dental practice, and it is important to have the proper legal counsel before making any important decisions.
Here is how a dental lawyer can help you during starting a dental office.
- Choosing the right business entity
Depending on the state or nation you want to open your practice, there are pros and cons to starting a dental office as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or corporation. Each of these business structures has its own advantages and disadvantages, but it is important to choose the right one that will best suit your practice. A dentist should never make this decision lightly since the business entity chosen will affect them for years to come.
- Negotiating affiliations with health care networks
If you choose to sign an affiliation agreement with a health care network, which allows you to take advantage of their discounts, there are some things that are required by law. There is an authorization form that the health care provider will send your governing body, and it must be signed by the dentist or doctor.
- Buying or leasing a practice
A dentist should never buy a practice without the help of a legal advisor, who can aid with all the business and real estate issues that come with owning a practice. In addition, a dentist should also make sure that they are fully aware of all the real estate laws in their area so that they know what they can and cannot do on their own property.
- Compliance with business and professional codes
Unless a dentist is a member of a state or national dental association, there are many codes of professional conduct and ethics that are required in order to keep your license. These include business ethics, marketing and advertising, patient confidentiality, and HIPPA. Dental law is always changing, so it is important to stay ahead of the game with your legal counsel.
